Boston man and two others abducted in Egypt
A Boston pastor was abducted in Egypt, while on a church trip to the Middle East on Friday.
Reverend Michel Louis was on a trip to retrace Jesus’ steps through the Holy Land, along with 23 other members of clergy and worshippers. Louis, along with another Boston woman and a tour guide were kidnapped Friday, according to NBCNews.com.
“As the tour bus was in area of the Sinai peninsula of Egypt, they were stopped by a couple of cars,” Jean Louis, son of Rev. Louis said.
“In the cars were some gentlemen who got onto the bus. They detained both my father …. and another woman who was part of the group on their way to Israel,” he said.
CNN.com reports that the family was unaware of the dangers of going through Egypt.
Reports state that an Egyptian Bedouin, Jirmy Abu-Masuh was the captor. His uncle is in an Egyptian detention center on drug charges, and that is Abu-Masuh reasoning for the kidnappings. He wants his uncle released and if he is not he states he will take more hostages.
Abu-Masuh refuses to negotiate until the release of his uncle. He has given authorities a 24 hour deadline and states that everyone is fine and he is treating them as guests.
The route the group was taking is targeted by Bedouins a lot. It is targeted because it is the spot where the St. Catherine’s Monestary is, which according to the Old Testament is where Moses received the stone tablets for the Ten Commandments.
UPDATE: The hostages have been released, reports The Associated Press. They were unharmed.
